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Scolecomorphidae
The Scolecomorphidae are the family of caecilians, also known as tropical caecilians, buried-eyed caecilians, or African caecilians. They are found in Cameroon in West Africa, and Malawi and Tanzania in East Africa. Caecilians are legless amphibians which superficially resemble worms or snakes. Scolecomorphids have only vestigial eyes, which are attached to the base of a pair of tentacles underneath the snout. Unlike other caecilians, they have only primary annuli; these are grooves running incompletely around the body, giving the animal a segmented appearance. All other caecilians have a complex pattern of grooves, with secondary or tertiary annuli present. Also uniquely amongst tetrapods, the scolecomorphids lack a stapes bone in the middle ear. At least some species of scolecomorphids give birth to live young, retaining the eggs inside the females' bodies until they hatch into fully formed offspring, without the presence of a free-living larval stage. Taxonomy Just six spe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Scolecomorphus
The Scolecomorphidae are the family of caecilians, also known as tropical caecilians, buried-eyed caecilians, or African caecilians. They are found in Cameroon in West Africa, and Malawi and Tanzania in East Africa. Caecilians are legless amphibians which superficially resemble worms or snakes. Scolecomorphids have only vestigial eyes, which are attached to the base of a pair of tentacles underneath the snout. Unlike other caecilians, they have only primary annuli; these are grooves running incompletely around the body, giving the animal a segmented appearance. All other caecilians have a complex pattern of grooves, with secondary or tertiary annuli present. Also uniquely amongst tetrapods, the scolecomorphids lack a stapes bone in the middle ear. At least some species of scolecomorphids give birth to live young, retaining the eggs inside the females' bodies until they hatch into fully formed offspring, without the presence of a free-living larval stage. Taxonomy Just six spe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Scolecomorphidae
The Scolecomorphidae are the family of caecilians, also known as tropical caecilians, buried-eyed caecilians, or African caecilians. They are found in Cameroon in West Africa, and Malawi and Tanzania in East Africa. Caecilians are legless amphibians which superficially resemble worms or snakes. Scolecomorphids have only vestigial eyes, which are attached to the base of a pair of tentacles underneath the snout. Unlike other caecilians, they have only primary annuli; these are grooves running incompletely around the body, giving the animal a segmented appearance. All other caecilians have a complex pattern of grooves, with secondary or tertiary annuli present. Also uniquely amongst tetrapods, the scolecomorphids lack a stapes bone in the middle ear. At least some species of scolecomorphids give birth to live young, retaining the eggs inside the females' bodies until they hatch into fully formed offspring, without the presence of a free-living larval stage. Taxonomy Just six spe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crotaphatrema
The Scolecomorphidae are the family of caecilians, also known as tropical caecilians, buried-eyed caecilians, or African caecilians. They are found in Cameroon in West Africa, and Malawi and Tanzania in East Africa. Caecilians are legless amphibians which superficially resemble worms or snakes. Scolecomorphids have only vestigial eyes, which are attached to the base of a pair of tentacles underneath the snout. Unlike other caecilians, they have only primary annuli; these are grooves running incompletely around the body, giving the animal a segmented appearance. All other caecilians have a complex pattern of grooves, with secondary or tertiary annuli present. Also uniquely amongst tetrapods, the scolecomorphids lack a stapes bone in the middle ear. At least some species of scolecomorphids give birth to live young, retaining the eggs inside the females' bodies until they hatch into fully formed offspring, without the presence of a free-living larval stage. Taxonomy Just six spe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Caecilian
Caecilians (; ) are a group of limbless, vermiform or serpentine amphibians. They mostly live hidden in the ground and in stream substrates, making them the least familiar order of amphibians. Caecilians are mostly distributed in the tropics of South and Central America, Africa, and southern Asia. Their diet consists of small subterranean creatures such as earthworms. All modern caecilians and their closest fossil relatives are grouped as a clade, Apoda , within the larger group Gymnophiona , which also includes more primitive extinct caecilian-like amphibians. The name derives from the Greek words γυμνος (''gymnos'', naked) and οφις (''ophis'', snake), as the caecilians were originally thought to be related to snakes. The body is cylindrical dark brown or bluish black in colour. The skin is slimy and bears grooves or ringlike markings. Description Caecilians completely lack limbs, making the smaller species resemble worms, while the larger species, with lengths up ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crotaphatrema Lamottei
''Crotaphatrema lamottei'', the Mount Oku caecilian or Lamotte's caecilian, is a species of caecilian in the family Scolecomorphidae. It is endemic to Mount Oku in Cameroon. The specific name ''lamottei'' honours , French biologist. There is some doubt whether ''Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis'' really is distinct from this species. Description Males measure and adult females in total length. The mid-body width varies between . There are 115–129 primary annuli that are incomplete ventrally. The eyes are not externally visible. The dorsum is tan-brown in preservative and sienna brown and pale lilac in life. The venter is cream. The lateral margins of the upper jaws and the area surrounding tentacular apertures are cream. The tip of the snout is tan-brown. Habitat and conservation ''Crotaphatrema lamottei'' is found in secondary forest, forest edge, and farmland, but never further than away from forest. It occurs at about above sea level. It is assumed to be oviparous Ov ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crotaphatrema Tchabalmbaboensis
''Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis'' is a species of caecilian in the family Scolecomorphidae, the tropical or African caecilians. It was discovered in 1997 on Mount Tchabal Mbabo in the Adamawa Plateau, western Cameroon, and described as a new species to science in 2000. Three specimens were collected at the type locality, and no individuals have been observed since. Description This caecilian, the third species in the genus ''Crotaphatrema'', is differentiated from the others by size, body shape, color pattern, and the lack of grooves on its collars. The type series consists of two adult females measuring in total length, and a subadult female measuring . The body width is . The eyes are not visible externally. The dorsum is blue- black and the venter is cream. The border between the dorsal and ventral coloration has a serrated pattern. Habitat and conservation The species is known only from the northern face of one mountain, where it was collected from forests on steep, slop ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crotaphatrema Bornmuelleri
''Crotaphatrema bornmuelleri'' is a species of caecilian in the family Scolecomorphidae. It is endemic to Cameroon. The specific name ''bornmuelleri'' honours Joseph Friedrich Nicolaus Bornmüller, a German botanist. Common names Bornmuller's caecilian and Bornmüller's caecilian have been coined for it. Like most species of its genus, it may be found at high elevations including Mount Cameroon. It was collected by Werner in 1893 and the holotype was collected by a local in an unknown location but its natural habitats may be subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, plantation A plantation is an agricultural estate, generally centered on a plantation house, meant for farming that specializes in cash crops, usually mainly planted with a single crop, with perhaps ancillary areas for vegetables for eating and so on. The ...s, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forests. No exact threats are known but if the species relies on soil moisture and temperature maintained ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Scolecomorphus Uluguruensis
''Scolecomorphus uluguruensis'' (common names: Uluguru black caecilian, Nyingwa caecilian), is a species of caecilian in the family Scolecomorphidae. It is endemic to the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania. Habitat and conservation ''Scolecomorphus uluguruensis'' is a soil-dwelling species that occurs in montane forests at elevations of above sea level. Presumably, it can also live in secondary habitats such as small-holder agricultural areas. It is viviparous and does not need water bodies for reproduction. The species has been recorded as locally abundant in the past, and it has also been collected in recent years. It probably suffers from habitat disturbance and conversion caused by deforestation and agricultural intensification, although it is not known whether these constitute significant threats. It occurs in the Uluguru Nature Reserve, but small-holder agriculture is encroaching on the reserve. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has reassessed ''Scolecomor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Scolecomorphus Kirkii
''Scolecomorphus kirkii'' (common names: Kirk's caecilian, Lake Tanganyika caecilian) is a species of caecilian in the family Scolecomorphidae. It is known from southern Malawi east of the Shire River, northern Mozambique, and Tanzania (including the Nguru, Udzungwa and Uluguru Mountains); the known distribution is discontinuous but the species is expected to occur in the intervening areas. Etymology The specific name ''kirkii'' refers to Sir John Kirk, a Scottish diplomat, naturalist, and explorer. Description Adults measure in snout–vent length; it is the largest ''Scolecomorphus'' species. There are 130–152 primary annuli (ring-shaped folds). The dorsal colouration is lavender-grey and extends to the sides such that it encroaches the flesh or cream coloured mid-ventral surfaces. It is possible that the colouration is aposematic. ''Scolecomorphus kirkii'' is assumed to be viviparous and not to depend on bodies of water in its reproduction. It is an efficient burrower ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Scolecomorphus Vittatus
''Scolecomorphus vittatus'', the banded caecilian, is a species of caecilian in the family Scolecomorphidae, endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, plantation A plantation is an agricultural estate, generally centered on a plantation house, meant for farming that specializes in cash crops, usually mainly planted with a single crop, with perhaps ancillary areas for vegetables for eating and so on. The ...s, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forests. The effects of ''S. vittatus'' skin toxin have been observed after a researcher, as part of a joke, put a specimen in their mouth: it was reported as causing a burning sensation and uncontrollable salivation lasting more than 30 minutes. The specimen was not visibly harmed.Measey, G. J. & Turner, A. 2008''Scolecomorphus vittatus'' (Boulenger, 1895). Taste.''African Herp News'' 45: 3-5. References Scolecomorphus Amph ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Edward Harrison Taylor
Edward Harrison Taylor (April 23, 1889 – June 16, 1978) was an American herpetologist from Missouri. Family Taylor was born in Maysville, Missouri, to George and Loretta Taylor. He had an older brother, Eugene. Education Taylor studied at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, graduating with a B.A. in 1912. Field trips during his time at the University of Kansas with Dr. Clarence McClung and Dr. Roy Moody helped prepare Taylor for his future endeavors. Between 1916 and 1920 he returned briefly to Kansas to finish his M.A. Career Upon completing his bachelor's degree, Taylor went to the Philippines, where at first he held a teacher's post in a village in central Mindanao. He collected and studied the local herpetofauna extensively and published many papers. He returned to the Philippines after completing his master's degree and was appointed Chief of Fisheries in Manila. On his many survey trips he continued collecting and studying fishes and reptiles of the islan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amphibian Families
Amphibians are four-limbed and ectothermic vertebrates of the class Amphibia. All living amphibians belong to the group Lissamphibia. They inhabit a wide variety of habitats, with most species living within terrestrial, fossorial, arboreal or freshwater aquatic ecosystems. Thus amphibians typically start out as larvae living in water, but some species have developed behavioural adaptations to bypass this. The young generally undergo metamorphosis from larva with gills to an adult air-breathing form with lungs. Amphibians use their skin as a secondary respiratory surface and some small terrestrial salamanders and frogs lack lungs and rely entirely on their skin. They are superficially similar to reptiles like lizards but, along with mammals and birds, reptiles are amniotes and do not require water bodies in which to breed. With their complex reproductive needs and permeable skins, amphibians are often ecological indicators; in recent decades there has been a dramatic decli ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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